Five steps to the perfect gin and tonic

Mother’s ruin has been dominating cocktail menus, Instagram feeds and rooftop bars for what feels like an age. But guess what – we’re not over it, not even slightly.

Not only is it cool and refreshing, our favourite tipple is also impressively versatile. You might throw in a lime for a citrus-y zing or treat yourself to a splash of elder-flower for a sweet twist – whatever your preference, it’s guaranteed to be delicious.

But, how can you be sure to absolutely nail the elusive, holy grail of a perfect G&T? There’s a lot of noise on the spirit scene, and if you’ve picked a gin and tonic for your next dinner party’s signature drink, you’re going to want to get it right.

Well guess what gals, Stylist is here to save the day again. We’ve spoken to Tim Homewood, UK brand ambassador for Tanqueray Gin, to get a break down on how to nail the ultimate G&T.

Here he talks us through us through his five step guide to have you sipping on this classic cocktail in no time.

Glass

“The wider the bowl on the glass, the more you get the aroma from the tonic, garnish and gin. I like the big balloon glasses because you actually get your face into it as you drink whereas with a highball glass you generally drink through a straw. It’s a much more multisensory drinking experience.”

Lemon and rosemary are among some of the best gin combos.

Ice

“The only rule here is to fill the glass. The more ice there is, the slower it melts and waters the drink down. I prefer two or three massive chunks of ice because they melt slower. Ice goes in first so as you pour your liquid over the top it will chill down and settle the ice.”

Gin

“The next thing is the ratio of gin to tonic. This can be quite personal but generally I’d recommend one part gin to two parts tonic. I would pour two egg cups of gin then top it up with tonic (about 50ml of gin to 100ml of tonic). you don’t want to peak too soon when you’re having a lovely

Tonic

“I look for tonics that aren’t too sharp or over-bearing in flavour. There’s a massive variety now, Fever-Tree paved the way for the premium tonic market by creating a tonic which enhanced gin rather than masked it. But it’s about getting the best you can afford. One of my favourite at-home tonics is Waitrose own brand (50p for 1 litre) – it’s brilliant.”

Garnish

“Garnishes are becoming a really important factor in gin and tonics, as they can bring out different elements from within the gin and allow for experimentation. For a bit of a twist I might add a sprig of rosemary and a couple of lemon slices, or if you want something a little bit fruity you can use berries. But I think having a citrus element to a G&T is super important. That could be a slice of lime, lemon or even pink grapefruit, but the citrus cuts through any sweetness in the tonic and enhances the crispness of your gin.”